Indie-Showcase posts

Welcome to the Indie Showcase, a semi-regular column on Big Download that takes a look at games we haven't covered on the site that we really think you should play.

There's a common thread that binds all of the games on today's Indie Showcase. Well, besides the fact that they are all fantastic. They are still in beta! Betas are a godsend to both independent developer and player, as developers get the feedback and exposure they need while players get to play and contribute to a new game! We know you'll love these games, even if they are incomplete, so go on and give them a try.

Welcome to the Indie Showcase, a semi-regular column on Big Download that takes a look at games we haven't covered on the site that we really think you should play.

Once again, it's time for another trawl of the indie development scene. With GDC recently wrapped up and the esteemed IGF competition over with for the year, many independent developers are taking a break to rest and recover from the insanity. However, don't think that quality indie releases are not floating out there! While some may be relaxing, others are busy creating, and these works are no less notable than others for being done in this off time! Keep note, though, that some of these were made well before GDC. The reason we are talking about them now is because there's such a large backlog!

Welcome to the Indie Showcase, a semi-regular column on Big Download that takes a look at games we haven't covered on the site that we really think you should play.

Tower defense games have been around since the days of Starcraft. This incredibly niche market has traversed the realms of game mods to browser games to full-fledged releases. The big thing, though, is that when it comes down to thoughtful, action-packed strategy, there's not much better than tower defense games. Here's just a few of our favorites for you to peruse at your leisure.

Welcome to the Indie Showcase, a semi-regular column on Big Download that takes a look at games we haven't covered on the site that we really think you should play.

You may be wondering why Indie Showcase is on Wednesday instead of Tuesday this week. That's because there are so many excellent entries in the Java4k 2009 competition that we needed an extra day to cover them all! For those that are unfamiliar, the Java 4k competition tasks a developer with creating a game with Java whose code and assets total to 4kb or less. It's quite a challenge, but some excellent games have come from it, including previously featured Left 4k Dead. So let's take a look at four of these awesome games and see just how much great gameplay is contained in the 4k competition. Remember that you can check out all of the competitors (including my favorite game from the competitions, Fuzetsu) from the 2009 competition as well as previous competitions on the official organization web page. Also, as this is Java4k, you will need Java installed. Big surprise there!

Welcome to the Indie Showcase, a semi-regular column on Big Download that takes a look at games we haven't covered on the site that we really think you should play.

It's amazing the things you can find just by browsing your average indie game development forum. Places like poppenkast, IndieGamer, and TIGSource breed the kind of games that indie game players hunger for, and simply browsing through their forums can introduce you to all sorts of games, finished or otherwise. It's a great way to find new games to play and possibly even get new ideas for games of your own. So here's a few games, freeware and otherwise, that we found while cruising some forums. The range from strategy games to casual puzzlers, but they are all excellent in their own way.

Welcome to the Indie Showcase, a semi-regular column on Big Download that takes a look at games we haven't covered on the site that we really think you should play.

There's just something about the surreal, nostalgic, offensive, confusing, or strange. They enchant us and draw us in despite our revulsion or confusion. There's just something so compelling that draws us in. We're back to the realm of strange, artsy, and nostalgic games, and man, have we slammed right into a selection of them. There has been a good selection of mind-bending experiences lately, and for those that want some of the action, here's a couple of the best. Here's a forewarning, though: some of these games are offensive and can possibly cause epileptic seizures. Not all at once, though. That would be scary!

Welcome to the Indie Showcase, a semi-regular column on Big Download that takes a look at games we haven't covered on the site that we really think you should play.

Wow. 2008 sure was a whirlwind year for independent games on PC and console alike. Games like World of Goo, Braid, and Everyday Shooter have defied our expectations and brought forth a sort of indie gaming renaissance. So let's take a look back at all those indie games released or significantly updated in 2008. There's a lot that can be learned from the independent and the auteur, after all. These games will be in no particular order, because I don't want to taint this list with trying to name a best, second best, and so on. They are all great games.

Click on the image above to continue reading about the best indie games of 2008

Welcome to the Indie Showcase, a semi-regular column on Big Download that takes a look at games we haven't covered on the site that we really think you should play.

Yet another competition at TIGSource has finished, and yet another batch of great little indie games have been released on an unsuspecting populace. This particular competition revolved around H.P. Lovecraft's Commonplace Book (Or CPB), a diary of his random story idea scribblings, many of which made no sense at all. Started in mid-October, the competition wrapped up at the end of November, and voting will soon begin to find the best among all the entries. The games made range from serious to hilarious, and all entertain greatly. Here's a pick of the best we've found.

Welcome to the Indie Showcase, a semi-regular column on Big Download that takes a look at games we haven't covered on the site that we really think you should play.

There's a wide array of platforms to launch your awesome web games, from a simple Java applet to the animation-based Flash. There's a new contender on the scene with Unity, though, and the output by some truly creative people has managed to push it forward as a great platform for independent developers. This is the platform that Flashbang Studios is using for their games such as Jetpack Brontosaurus, Off-Road Velociraptor Safari, and Minotaur China Shop, and their support behind it and role in teaching new developers about it has brought Unity forward more and more as a good platform for web developers.

The developers behind the Unity platform recently hosted a competition for games made using the Unity platform. Among the list of participants are familiar faces such as the aforementioned efforts from Flashbang Studios, but there were some other efforts there that really amazed. Some were web-based, others were downloadable, but they were all incredible games that caught the eye and intrigued the brain. Here's some of the best that can be found, and the list of games in the competition can be found on the official Unity forums.